Did Greenvolts manufacture their own solar cells? If so, this may be the Achilles Heel.
Spectrolab in Sylmar manufactures Gallium arsenide based solar cells for space based applications. In general, it is not used "terrestrially" because of the potential risks if ever disposed of. First Solar's thin film Cadmium telluride product is also considered a hazardous waste, but First Solar initiated a recycling program. ABB may be backing away fearing that Greenvolts hasn't incorporated monitoring of installed sites and disposal into its business model.
GaAs is a wonderful substrate for manufacturing solar cells since it handles heat far better than silicon and is just far more efficient outright.
I'd heard of attempts to use the product with a solar concentrators and tracking. I'm not sure if Greenvolts uses the GaAs type product (maybe even from Spectrolab). Wikipedia shows GaAs as a type III/V semiconductor, and Greenvolts uses a III/V semiconductor, so Greenvolt's product substrate is probably GaAs.
Federal subsidies to solar photovoltaic manufacturers has dropped off the cliff as the non-renewable fossil fuel industries have flexed their lobbying and advertising muscles, inciting an "anti-R&D" philosophy to infiltrate Washington DC with Tea Party ferver.
Besides politics, the cost of solar panels of lesser quality (lower efficiency) is dropping so quickly, perhaps ABB is considering dropping their commitment with Greenvolts to pursue other cheaper products.
Silicon based solar panels pretty much top out at 14% efficiency, Cadmium telluride at upwards of 24%, and GaAs can reach 40% efficiency. Lead selenium quantum nano dot technology may someday be produced and marketed at 40 to 50% efficiencies and nano antennae may someday be produced and marketed at 80% efficiencies, but the last two technologies may be as little as five years away, or as long as 25 years away.
Still, the proven long-term track record of III/V GaAs being able to handle the heat should give ABB pause to drop Greenvolts. ABB may be hoping they can partner with others using cheaper technology to achieve similar tracking control, but it is unlikely that they will be able to achieve a similarly integrated product of high quality without breaking patents.
And the most insidious possibility is that major players involved in fossil fuel based energy generation are threatening ABB with a loss of business. Lets all hope that underneath it all that this is not the case.
Good Luck Greenvolts!!! Some other sugar daddy would be foolish not to step-up and help you cross the finish line to dominate the market, whether they be in the power and controls industry, in GaAs manufacturing or perhaps some other financier who sees a yet unrecognized potential!
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